Information AboutKorowai |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT KOROWAI | |
| ethnic groups in indonesia | |
| indigenous peoples of melanesia | |
| new guinea | |
| tribal societies that have practiced cannibalism | |
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LANGUAGE Their language belongs to the Awyu-Dumut family (southeastern Papua) and is part of the Trans-New Guinea phylum. LIVING The majority of the Korowai clans live in Tree House s on their isolated territory. Since 1980 some have moved into the then recently opened villages of Yaniruma at the Becking River banks ( Kombai -Korowai area), Mu, and Mbasman (Korowai-Citak area). In 1987 , a village was opened in Manggél, in Yafufla (1988), Mabül at the banks of the Eilanden River ( 1989 ), and Khaiflambolüp ( 1998 ). The village Absenteeism rate is still high, because of the relatively long distance between the settlements and the food ( Sago ) resources. ECONOMY Originally, the Korowai were (and most still are) Horticulturalists who practiced Shifting Cultivation . They also developed skills in hunting and fishing for gaining necessary protein supplies. There is no relevant information about Korowai trade patterns. The Korowai know a few Gender -specific activities, such as the performance of religious ceremonies in which only the male adults are involved. KINSHIP The Patriclan is the central unit with respect to social, economic, and political organization. Kinship terminology follows the Omaha I pattern (Lounsbury), knowing a central opposition between cross and parallel relationships. In Korowai society the forms of institutional Levirate and predominance of Avuncular relationships are found, as well as a kind of Affinal avoidance relationships. Marriage is Exogamous and Polygynous . Preference is given to a Conjugal relationship with the ( Classificatory ) mother's mother's brother's daughter. SOCIAL LIFE Leadership structures are based on personal qualities of ''strong men'' rather than on institution. Interclan warfare occurs mainly because of Witchcraft and Sorcery related conflicts. Within the framework of punishing those who committed witchcraft a certain type of cannibal justice is found. RELIGIOUS LIFE The Korowai universe is filled with all kinds of spirits, some more personal of character than others. Reverence is paid especially to the (spirits of the) ancestors. To Ginol Silamtena, the creator spirit, the Korowai do not ascribe an important role in their daily life. Once in a lifetime a Korowai clan must organize a sago grub festival in order to stimulate prosperity and fertility in a ritual fashion. In times of trouble they sacrifice s, Folktale s, ( Magical ) sayings and Charm s, and Totem traditions. With respect to death and afterlife the Korowai believe in the existence of a reciprocal type of Reincarnation : those who died can be sent back at any time to the land of the living, by their kinsmen in the land of the dead, in order to reincarnate in a newly born infant of their own clan. CONTACT WITH WESTERNERS In the late moved to Yaniruma. CANNIBALISM The Korowai practice ritual cannibalism. When someone is convicted of being a Kakua (a secret witch doctor) he is tried and if convicted he is tortured, executed, and eaten. The brain is usually eaten immediately, while it is still warm. Pregnant women and children don’t participate in the cannibalism. REFERENCES
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